March 28, 2022 - Medium yellow, lime, melon nose, lime, melon and kiwi on palate. Very smooth and mouth coating with just enough acidity. Fruit-laden long finish.Wine has aged very well and did not show any flaws. Served with grilled cod.
June 3, 2020 - One of the best Savennieres I've had, perhaps drinking it before its old age. Dry of course, but plenty of fruit, maybe muskmelon, and a bit of lanolin. Good length. Excellent "food wine."
January 29, 2019 - Delightful example of La Jalousie, which I tend to think of as less age worthy than the Clos du Papillon. not inferior but just a very different wine. This had nice bracing acidity, beautiful scents of lemongrass, chalk, and lime. After about 30 minutes the bouquet opened up beautifully into pine resin, pink grapefruit. Noticeable minerality. Supple on the tongue, very refreshing. Excellent value. Drink now.
Score : 91. Relative to expectations: +
November 5, 2016 - A richer style of Chenin, drinking well. Pretty bouquet, consistent on the palate. No rush. Waitrose £16 18 months ago.
August 7, 2015 - No formal notes, but delicious, interesting, refreshing wine. Highly recommended.
March 17, 2015 - Opened one hour in advance. Composite cork. Intense aroma of flowers and wool. Rich, deep flavors of apricot and white fruit. Honey tangerine finish.
Complex, intense, balanced, firm backbone, absolutely delightful. Evolving flavors, great staying power. I always like La Jalousie wine, but this is a step above.
December 6, 2014 - An Evening in the Loire Valley: Westchester Wine School (White Plains, NY): Drank at WWS Loire tasting vs a Closel Papillon, which I preferred. Feint nose of green apples, light to medium bodied, good acidity, high mineral & stone quality, not as much fruit as I would have liked. Very much in the mineral, as opposed to fruit family, but bigger with more fruit than any of the Fumes or Sancerre had previously at this tasting
October 21, 2014 - Tasting Closels with Evelyne de Pontbriand (Le Caveau, Chamblee, GA): Bright fruit and minerals and well-integrated acidity make it easy and fun to drink. An interesting contrast to the Papillons, which showed much more honey and lanolin.
October 19, 2014 - Aromas and flavors of apple and spice. Nice rounded mouthfeel with well balanced acidity. This is a true autumn white. Drank with Roasted Pork Loin and Apple Fennel Pudding.
July 20, 2014 - Taking a quick diversion from my virtual trip through Burgundy, I went to the Loire Valley to find something that'd go well with my fish plate.
I hadn't had a chenin blanc in some time. That's probably because the last time I did I was served a glass of cheap Vouvray in a restaurant known more for its ambiance than its food or wine. I remember it left a bad taste in my mouth, literally.
But this was different. As with other bottles on my Old World tour, it was recommended by a wise and trusted friend. It was more dry than sweet (a plus for me, assuming it's not consumed with dessert). Aromas were subtle. Hard to put my finger (or nose) on exactly what they reminded me of. Another reviewer used the word "stony." I think that's apt. And the aftertaste was enjoyable.
My take-away is that chenin blancs can be great....and that I shouldn't buy glasses of house wine when dining at a restaurant known for its sports motif. That experience steered me away from this varietal for too long.
Very nice!